Which Red Wings Would Have Made Their Olympic Team?

With the upcoming Olympics in PyeongChang, I thought it would be fun to discuss which Red Wings would have been going. Hockey is as diverse as it has ever been and, with the recent addition of Finland, there are 5 power houses. It would have been really fun to watch the world’s best go for the Olympic Gold. These are who I would have participating in the Olympics this year:

The Locks:

Henrik Zetterberg –Team Sweden

Although teams try to avoid older players, Zetterberg has been a part of Sweden’s roster at each Olympics since 2002. The Sedin twins would definitely be on the bubble for this year’s team. Zetterberg would be a lock to play centre this year.

Tomas Tatar – Team Slovakia

This one is as obvious as they come. Slovakia doesn’t have enough NHLers to ice an entire team so Tatar would be a lock. He was on their 2014 roster as well.

Martin Frk – Team Czech Republic

Like Slovakia, Czech Republic cannot ice a full roster of NHL players. Frk, and his shot, would be a lock for this team.

Petr Mrazek – Team Czech Republic

Mrazek would be valued over Pavelec this year – making him a lock.

The Maybes:

Gustav Nyquist –Team Sweden

Nyquist was a part of the silver-medaling 2014 roster. His lack of production the past couple seasons would warrant 3rd or 4th line ice-time but he would still net a couple goals in the tournament.

Dylan Larkin –Team USA

He would make the team as the 4th line centre or right winger or even as the 13th forward.

Jimmy Howard –Team USA

I can’t see him making the roster with the likes of Quick, Gibson, Schneider, Bishop, and Anderson to compete with, but the 3rd goalie position is always a wild card.

Close, But No Cigar:

Anthony Mantha –Team Canada

Team Canada is just too good and too deep to take a flyer on this sophomore. He will be on the radar for the 2022 roster if he continues to score this well over the next few seasons.

Honourable Mentions:

Frans Nielsen – Team Denmark

Denmark is not participating in the men’s ice hockey in 2018. If they were, Nielsen would be on this team.

2014 Sochi Olympics:

The Red Wings had 9 players represent their countries in Sochi. This year, I only have 4. This is the wrong way we want our team trending.

Let me know in the comments below if you agree, disagree, or have any further thoughts!

Shit – Sweden would be stacked. I think Nyquist could give anyone on that fourth line a run for their money. That being said, I’m not sure Sweden would ice a team without one or both of the Sedins. If it were a 13th forward, I would take Nyquist in front of any of those other guys you listed.